The Long Pool

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 24, 2013487 views22 comments

I had made a similar image a couple of years ago, but it was plagued by a unsharp corners, and hence I wanted to redo this scene. This year, with a full frame camera and better lens, I made the trek up the creek to this long pool to catch the reflection of the fall maples. Thanks to Jimmy G and Glenn T for joining me.

I am open to suggestions, so feel free to pick nits.
Nikon D600, Nikon 16-35 @ 22mm, f/6.3, ISO 100. Zerene focal stack of 2 images for dof, 5% tonal contrast and 10% neutral glamour glow added with NIK.

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on October 24, 2013 at 10:15 AM

Wonderful shot Doug. The pool makes such a great leading line. Like the detail in the water and the tones and color. Great shot.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 24, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Excellent Doug. I love the clarity of the stream so that I can see the bottom.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 24, 2013 at 11:15 AM

Beautiful scene Doug, really nice reflections and subtle colors, and your composition works beautifully.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Glenn Tunaley on October 24, 2013 at 1:26 PM

Really nice Doug. Great comp and color. I like how you can see the rock detail in the water.

Registered on March 1, 2013, 19 Posts, 93 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 24, 2013 at 3:48 PM

Excellent in every respect: detail, DOF, dynamic range and eye guidance! No nits.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on October 24, 2013 at 4:30 PM

Very nice Doug. Glad it came together for you too. The colors were much better than they were last year. If I had anything to critique, it might be to crop just a little more from the top to remove that little section of sky in the upper right.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on October 24, 2013 at 6:56 PM

A really gorgeous image Doug. I find your composition stunning. This is a photograph that I believe you can forever play with tweaking. This only thing I see in the large version is a slight loss of detail on the back face (pinnacle) where the brighter light is hitting that rock formation. Again very minor, spectacular as is.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on October 24, 2013 at 7:04 PM

Thanks for posting the larger version first of all. Allows me to savor this gem more fully.
A stellar composition, Doug! Perfect reflection (did you use a polarizer?) and the scenery is spectacular. I wouldn't crop any more, but you could 'heal' that bit of sky instead if you prefer. I think that you could introduce a bit more Vibrance to the scene to make it pop a bit better without having it look like a candy store.

Really fine work, amigo! Another entry to Az. Hwys, IMO.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 24, 2013 at 7:22 PM

Wow Doug! This looks fantastic! Love looking at the large version you included. Beautiful work...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on October 24, 2013 at 7:56 PM

Thank you for the feedback. Although small, I think the spot of sky might be better filled in rather than cropped down as the loss of maple color and the rock edge to the UR corner would be a greater impact. That bright rock face upper middle that you notice John N, has always been a problem area, so I may need to blend in a lesser exposure to that spot. Are the yellow leaves or stick in the water of the LRC a bother to you? This is an image I'd like to print, so fire away with suggestions.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on October 24, 2013 at 8:05 PM

I didn't notice them until you mentioned it, Doug. But if I were going to print this, I would 'lose' them as they somewhat mar a perfect reflection. I hate to say that about nature's own detritus, but it's a new digital world out there now.

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Kane Engelbert on October 24, 2013 at 8:08 PM

Well, that's quite a lovely scene and your capture of said scene is about perfect in my opinion. Anything I could add would be personal preference type stuff.

Registered on June 14, 2009, 63 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on October 24, 2013 at 8:18 PM

Love the fact that you can see the bed rock below the surface. A great and confusing reflection shot.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 24, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Amazing image Doug. One of those that make me feel like I'm there myself. Love the leading lines and complimentary colors.

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 24, 2013 at 8:46 PM

Fantastic, Doug. That reflection is mesmerizing.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on October 24, 2013 at 9:32 PM

I'm with John M here, didn't even notice them until you pointed it out. So much in this image to lose yourself in!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on October 24, 2013 at 10:06 PM

Even at the thumbnail this was sweet!!!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Warren on October 25, 2013 at 6:33 PM

Super! I love seeing the rock contours through the reflection. Comp is great too. Searching for nits: personal taste, but I'd nudge the vibrance just a bit as John M suggested. Really nice image!

Registered on May 11, 2012, 84 Posts, 931 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 25, 2013 at 7:40 PM

I think this is beautiful and definitely best seen in the larger version. The reflections are really fine and make a nice lead into the depth. My only nit (and it's very minor) is that I'd like the wall in the distance to be just a touch darker.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on October 25, 2013 at 9:12 PM

Outstanding image Doug! I really like the composition here. My only suggestion would be to add just a bit of midtone contrast to the image to make the colors pop a bit more. This is a personal preference though and this works very well as presented.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on October 26, 2013 at 11:04 AM

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have subsequently filled in the sky, cloned out a couple of twigs, darkened the brighter faces on the rear wall, and increased the saturation and its luminance. Little changes, but much better overall.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on October 26, 2013 at 9:29 PM

Hi Doug

Really well composed to capture all the incredible elements in this stunning scene

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments